Lots of things had happened of late. Romeo had practically moved into my room, still climbing up my balcony like my personal Romeo Montague, causing the sorority girls to turn green with envy. The Crimson Tide football team had won their final game against LSU to place them in the SEC Division Championship, and they were the firm favourites to head for the BCS National Championship. And even more amazing, Romeo Prince, the love of my life, had been recently ranked as number-one quarterback in the country. I was so unbelievably proud of him, although he still cringed when I told him so.
Oh, and I was at peace now with being a mother.
I was going to be a mum.
I was shaking my head with an unbelieving smile, when Ally came crashing through my bedroom door, out of breath, and her brown eyes frantic.
“Molly, Rome’s just had a fight at practice. He’s practically killed Chris Porter.”
“Who the hell’s Chris Porter?”
“A wide receiver for the Tide and Shelly’s new f**k buddy.”
I pulled on my brown boots and snatched my black winter jacket off the coat stand. “Where is he?”
Ally was practically prancing at my door, desperate to leave. “He’s lost his shit and is tearing the gym apart. You need to go see him. You’re the only one who can calm him down.”
I ran out of the door and down the main set of stairs.
“What happened? What caused him to go so mad?” I asked hurriedly as we burst through the doors into the crisp, cool breeze of Alabama winter.
She threw her hands in the air. “I have no idea. Cass called me to get you. Your phone was going straight to voicemail.”
“I switched it off so I could concentrate on my reading.”
I took off running towards the gym, when Ally grabbed my arm and pulled me in the direction of her red Mustang. “I’ll drive. It’s quicker.”
We jumped in and I anxiously bit my nails, wondering what the heck could upset him so much. He’d been better lately, less angry, less aggressive.
I blanched.“Do you think someone’s said something about the baby? That it’s got out somehow?”
Ally’s eyes crinkled in thought as she pulled out of the road. “No, who would tell? Anyone who knows wouldn’t say a damn thing to anyone. Cass hasn’t even told Jimmy-Don.”
I sighed and rubbed my temples. “I know. Where are Cass and Lexi?”
“At the gym. Cass was meeting Jimmy-Don there to go for food when Rome went psycho. Lexi was with her. Apparently, Austin and Jimmy-Don tried to calm him down, but he went for them too. The coach had already left the building, so they locked the door and left him to get it all out. He’s f**kin’ lost it if he’s going for his friends too!”
I watched the clock tick around slowly on the dashboard, each second taking an eternity as we raced down the roads to the gym. When we arrived, a crowd had gathered outside, and all eyes fell on me as I jumped out of the car and sprinted over to Jimmy-Don, Lexi, and Cass.
“Thank Christ you’re here!” Jimmy-Don cried, his usual smiley face stricken with panic.
I grabbed Cass’s arms. “Where is he? What’s happened?”
Her expression was dumfounded. “Hell if I know, girl. Austin said the coach said something to Rome in private and he started shoutin’, goin’ all crazy, and when Chris Porter made a stupid joke to him over somethin’, he lost it and started poundin’ on him. The team took Porter away to clean him up; he’s a mess.”
I held my stomach, fighting back the nausea. “Jimmy-Don, where’s the gym?”
Taking my hand, he led me through the crowd of gathered students who were whispering and staring at me as I passed.
We went through the double-door entrance and raced down a corridor to find Austin with his thoroughly inked arms crossed over his chest, leaning against a shut door.
When he heard our footsteps, he tilted his head back and sighed in relief. “Thank f**k, Molly.”
“Is he in there?” I pointed to the door.
Austin nodded. “He’s not in a good place, Molls. Be careful.”
I tapped his arm in reassurance and opened the door to utter carnage. Mats, footballs, and weights were scattered on the floor, the high-tech workout equipment littered with debris. Romeo had trashed the gym and he sat, drenched with sweat, shirtless, wearing black gym shorts, slumped on a bench, head in his hands.
The door clicked to a close and his head snapped up at the sound, glaring my way. When he saw it was me, he leaned back against the wall, letting out a long groan, arms on the back of his head, staring at the ceiling.